- Vegetarian nutritionist Taesha Butler shared how to keep avocados fresh
The age-old question of the perfect time to eat a not-quite-ripe avocado is a question that has been on the minds of middle-class diners across the country for years.
If you are impatient, you risk cutting into a solid green stone. But wait too long and you will see a brown, mushy lump.
When is the right time to serve your beloved smashed avocado on that important brunch date?
Luckily, a vegetarian food connoisseur has revealed the ingredient they use to keep avocados fresh, even when they’re already rotting.
Taesha Butler, chef and founder of the vegetarian recipe website The Natural Nurturer, believes she has the perfect technique for extending the shelf life of your avocados by a week.
Avocados have become a hugely popular food item in recent years — and are often paired with mockery of millennials for their love of the fruit (File Photo)
While consumption levels can vary by age group, there’s one frustrating factor about avocados that many people struggle with: the food’s tendency to brown and spoil quickly (File photo)
Ms Butler said: ‘Brush the exposed meat with a little olive oil. This creates a barrier between the meat and the air, which slows down the browning. I find a pastry brush is perfect for this job,’ she said. The Express.
She said the method should be used on avocados that have already been opened, as it seals the skin, reducing the amount of oxygen that can reach the fruit.
Applying a layer of oil to an opened avocado helps retain moisture, reducing the chance of the avocado spoiling.
After you’ve coated the avocado in olive oil, you can preserve its freshness by wrapping it in plastic wrap and storing it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep there for up to a week longer than normal.
These steps ensure that the delicious product remains fresh, because the fruit is exposed to less air. This keeps it green for longer.
However, if you have bought a whole avocado, do not brush it with olive oil while it is still unopened. The avocado should ripen at room temperature and can then be stored in the refrigerator.
The snack stays fresh longer in the refrigerator, but it must first mature so that the flavor can develop.
Once an avocado is placed in the colder refrigerator, the ripening process stops completely. This means that the avocado can become bitter if you don’t let it ripen before storing it.
Adding a layer of oil to an opened avocado helps retain moisture, reducing the chance of the avocado rotting (File Image)